Heavy Artillery Records - 2010
9/10
Two years following Vindicator's thrashy, trashy, but impressively catchy debut album titled There Will Be Blood, the Ohio outfit returned for a follow-up in the same vein showcasing early evolution. No hard deviations from the rough and gruff thrash under a youthful scope were present, but an obvious reigning-in of the chaos and tightening-down of the writing was present. Thus, The Antique Witcheries strikes the iron at that sweet spot where production has that organic grit with song structures that aren't quite as simplistic. I may be a fan of the latter fun, but that direction has a shelf life about as long as milk.
Such a description might make someone predict something leaning into over-sophistication, but Vindicator's attitude dodges that and continues aiming for a no-bullshit punch. As controversial as it sounds, this is Marshall Law's best vocal performance to date, trading some of the harsher shrieks and blitzing energy for a raspy but concise flow, touching the right amount of melody. Moreover, rhythmic integrity takes a step up in the riff department, mixing more intricate breaks into otherwise straightforward structures, and the solos are in no short supply either. Even the drums have an echoed tint that add a little personality, but not overdone to the point that it sounds like it belongs on a demo.
And as immaculately as The Antique Witcheries is pulled off as a complete package, I really appreciate the amount of nuances found from song to song. "Sewn To The Flesh" is a bass-heavy banger that utilizes steady power-stance bridges under vocals that use monotone to their advantage, while opener "Beneath The Guillotine" reveals the band's ability to morph their violent nature into something catchy from start to finish. "Raze The Dead" showcases strengths in obvious zombified themes under a suspenseful scope that bakes crushing riffs and crawling bass lines into the formula. I may even point out some hardcore influences in its little breakdown that precedes some of Vic Stown's strongest leads seeing us out.
Even the speed-heavy blazers leave a sharp impression, like the explosive "Fearmonger" that still packs in layer after layer of aggression. You'll get whiffs of the hectic fun from before in the form of "Quarry Rats," a goofy but impressionable number, and the title track's gang chants following several directions fit all of this very nicely. Hell, there are even early signs of the political and reality struggles that would come with Vindicator's evolution in the likes of "Communal Decay," which doesn't feel out of place with the slime and grime. It's like a reminder that the energy of the first round isn't gone, but simply evolved to fit into a new mold. What matters most is that nothing feels forced, and the different nuances in the band's evolution mesh together with the established attitude, avoiding awkward transition.
Given my direct insight on the band's history, I find it insane that Mr. Law doesn't particularly care for his performance on this. Maybe it's a happy accident, maybe it's another one of my personal sympathies a la Exodus's Force Of Habit, but I find the sophomore record to be their most essential work. No shade at the other albums, as it's all got its own charm, but it's tough for a throwback thrash act to really feel unique. If they nailed a distinct identity on any record, this is the one.
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